Inter extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a 5-2 win over Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, a result that damaged Roma’s Champions League hopes and left Gian Piero Gasperini speaking about a major psychological setback for the squad after the decisive moments went in Inter’s favour.

The match opened at high speed as Lautaro Martinez scored inside the first minute, before Gianluca Mancini equalised five minutes before half-time. Hakan Calhanoglu then struck from distance in first-half stoppage time, while Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella added further goals, with Lorenzo Pellegrini replying late on.

Gasperini highlighted how the game slipped away early in the second half, when Martinez scored again in the 52nd minute to make it 3-1. That moment, described as the key blow, arrived soon after the break and came before Thuram and Barella stretched the scoreline beyond Roma’s reach.

“It wasn’t easy conceding in the first few seconds, but after that I saw a good Roma, though going into the break behind was a real blow to morale,Gasperini told DAZN Italia. The third goal, in particular, knocked the wind out of us, and from then on we were really suffering.”

This result continued Inter’s strong recent record against Roma, with nine wins from the last 11 Serie A meetings, losing only twice in that stretch. It was also Inter’s first league victory over Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza since October 2023, underlining how difficult this particular fixture had been at home.

Historically, Roma are the opponents Inter have defeated most often in the Italian top flight, with this game bringing the total to 81 victories. Roma’s task at San Siro became harder when Mancini, who scored and then suffered an injury in the first half, was forced off at half-time and replaced by Daniele Ghilardi.

Mancini’s substitution removed a player who has caused problems for Inter in past seasons. The Italian defender is now the defender with the most goals, four, against Inter in Serie A during the three-points-for-a-win era, and Gasperini felt Roma’s defensive structure was weaker without that presence on the pitch.

“Undoubtedly, Mancini is a very important player for us, Gapserini added. When we have a complete squad, we are much more competitive, but are missing quite a few at the moment. I saw a good Roma in the first half; the final result makes it all lookworse, but admittedly, the game was over at the third goal, and we must give credit to astrong Inter side.”

Roma’s defeat left the team sixth in Serie A on 54 points, and the result allowed both Juventus and Como the chance to move further ahead in the Champions League race. The Opta supercomputer still gives Roma a 10.8% probability of finishing in the top four, yet the margin for error across the final seven fixtures is now small.

“It is difficult for us, difficult for Juventus, for Como and Atalanta, all the teams challenging for one place, Gasperini said. We are a little behind right now, but we’ll do everything possible to recover lost ground, that is for sure.” Como visit Udinese and Juventus host Genoa on Monday, fixtures that could reshape the standings further as Roma prepare for the decisive run-in.